LookItUp

straighten up

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌstreɪtən ˈʌp/

straighten up means: To stop bending forward and sit with your back straight.

verb

SIT UPRIGHTB1

To stop bending forward and sit with your back straight.

  • Straighten up in your chair.
  • She straightened up when the teacher entered.
  • Can you straighten up without hurting your back?

Similar words: sit up, sit upright

Opposites: slouch

Common phrases: straighten up slowly, straighten up in bed

TIDY A PLACEB1

To put things in their proper places and make a room or area neat.

  • Please straighten up the kitchen.
  • I straightened the living room up before our guests arrived.
  • Have you had time to straighten up?

How to use it: straighten something up (Please straighten your room up before lunch.)

Similar words: tidy, tidy up

Common phrases: straighten up something, straighten something up, straighten up the room

BECOME STRAIGHTB2

To become less bent or curved.

  • The bent stem straightened up.
  • The wire straightened up as we pulled it tight.
  • Will the young tree straighten up as it grows?

Similar words: straighten

Opposites: bend

Common phrases: straighten up slowly, straighten up again

PUT IN ORDERB2

To solve problems or arrange a situation so it works properly.

  • We must straighten up our finances.
  • She straightened up the accounts before selling the business.
  • Have you straightened up those payment problems?

How to use it: straighten something up (We need to straighten our affairs up before leaving.)

Similar words: sort out, put in order

Common phrases: straighten up finances, straighten something up

STEER STRAIGHTC1

To change direction so that a vehicle moves straight ahead.

  • Turn left, then straighten up.
  • The driver straightened up after the bend.
  • You need to straighten up before entering the narrow lane.

Similar words: straighten out

Common phrases: straighten up afterward, straighten up smoothly

MAKE CLEARC2

To make something easier to understand or remove confusion about it.

  • We should straighten up that misunderstanding.
  • Her explanation straightened up the confusion about the dates.
  • Can you straighten this matter up for me?

How to use it: straighten something up (Let me straighten this misunderstanding up.)

Similar words: clarify, clear up

Opposites: confuse

Common phrases: straighten up something, straighten something up

Questions about straighten up

What does straighten up mean?

To stop bending forward and sit with your back straight.

What is straighten up in other languages?

Türkçe: dik oturmak · Español: incorporarse · Français: se redresser · Deutsch: sich aufrichten · Italiano: raddrizzarsi · 日本語: 背筋を伸ばす

How do you pronounce straighten up?

It is pronounced /ˌstreɪtən ˈʌp/.

How do you use straighten up in a sentence?

Straighten up in your chair. She straightened up when the teacher entered.

Learn straighten up while you read

LookItUp shows the meaning that fits your sentence, in your language, and turns new words into quick practice cards.

Coming soon on the App Store LookItUp app for iPhone and iPad

straighten up in other languages

More words